Northern Elephant Seals Can Thrive On 2 Hours of Sleep Per Day

Feeling sluggish after a short night’s sleep? You might be comforted to know that the robust northern elephant seals are masters at functioning on minimal slumber. Surprisingly, these colossal creatures thrive on just about two hours of sleep a day while at sea.

Northern elephant seals are true extremes in nature. Not only do they boast an impressive size – adult females often weigh over 1,300 pounds, and males can reach more than two tons – but they also embark on challenging voyages lasting for months. During these expeditions, they cover thousands of miles, diving more than 3,000 feet underwater to forage for food. It begs the question, when do these fascinating creatures catch some sleep?

Ecophysiologist Jessica Kendall-Bar from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and her team have recently cracked this mystery. Their study, published in the journal Science, reveals that northern elephant seals take short power naps during their deep dives. Their combined sleep duration per day? A mere two hours.

Kendall-Bar had to overcome some significant challenges to measure the seals’ brain activity underwater at extreme pressures. She ingeniously adapted a device used on birds and waterproofed the electrodes to ensure functionality underwater. After successful test runs on herself, she was ready to attach the equipment to wild seals. The research team sedated the animals for the procedure, and once they woke up, the seals seemed surprisingly unfazed by their new gear.

When the scientists analyzed the data, they found that the seals start to nap during their dives by switching to slow wave sleep, a phase when brain activity slows down and synchronizes. After about a minute, they transition to REM sleep, associated with vivid dreams in humans. The seals would then experience sleep paralysis and start spiraling down to the ocean floor, reminiscent of a falling leaf. Some even completed their nap lying on the seafloor!

Interestingly, when they return to land, these seals seem to indulge in a sleep marathon, clocking up to 14 hours of sleep per day. Kendall-Bar’s research not only gives us intriguing insights into these marine animals’ sleep habits but also provides valuable information about the regions they prefer for their underwater naps. This knowledge can help in establishing protected areas for their unique sleep needs.

So, next time you complain about not getting enough shut-eye, remember the northern elephant seals and their impressive ability to thrive on power naps. They truly give a new meaning to sleeping with the fishes!

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